This past weekend was the end of Daylight Saving Time. It is hard enough for people on a normal schedule to adjust to this twice a year, but as a midnight person it makes it very difficult!

So many people were bragging about getting an extra hour of sleep, that meant nothing to our family. As a matter of fact, the time change has just played havoc on us all. For example, Sam just happened to be working over night on Saturday Night. What did that mean for her? An extra hour of work. Urgh!

The kids normally get up at 6 or 7am. That means that they are now getting up at 5 or 6am! That in itself is difficult, but it also screws up nap times and bed times. They get crabby an hour earlier now. It’s not always easy to push through for one more hour when they are tired. It makes it extra difficult for Sam and I.

Tonight was the first night that I had to drive to work after the time change. This is the time of year where I really struggle. It is dark when I drive to work AND dark when I drive home from work. As I drove in tonight, I actually found myself questioning if I was going the right way!

I KNEW I was heading the right way, however, it was so dark that I wasn’t seeing the normal landmarks I would see in the light. As stupid as it sounds, I looked at the Interstate signs more than once to make sure I was driving South!

My drive is just over an hour each way. When you are already sleep deprived, that drive can be terrifying. There is always the possibility of “highway hypnosis” or “white line fever,” which is when a driver has been driving for too long. Staring at the lines in the road can produce a hypnotic effect. One website states: A driver experiencing highway hypnosis may be able to operate and control the vehicle in a normal, safe manner – yet he or she will have no recollection of doing so later. Driving on autopilot is a form of highway hypnosis. Allowing highway hypnosis to take over could result in serious or fatal car accidents.

That in itself is scary! It also becomes a bit more easy to want to fall asleep while driving. There have been times where I have pulled over to nap for 10-15 minutes before driving again. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens. Usually, I can call my wife and just talking to her will help me stay awake. When you factor in other dangers (deer, snow & ice), this becomes the time of year I hate driving.

Both hands on the wheel ….